When a lender or employer takes adverse action based on a consumer report, what information must be provided to the consumer?

• A. An adverse action notice including the name, address, and phone number of the CRA that supplied the report, and instructions for obtaining a free copy of the report
• B. A generic apology letter
• C. Only the decision
• D. Only the creditor's contact info

Answer: (A)

When a lender or employer makes an adverse decision based on a consumer report, the notice you must receive includes information to help you understand and challenge the decision. The essential pieces are the contact details of the consumer reporting agency that supplied the report and instructions on how to obtain a free copy of that report. This allows you to review what the lender saw and verify its accuracy. The notice should also inform you that you have the right to dispute any information with the CRA if you believe it’s incorrect. These elements ensure you can quickly access your file and correct any errors that might have affected the decision. The other options fail because they don’t provide the required CRA contact information and the right to obtain a free copy, which are the key protections the law requires.